25th Jun, 2025 11:00
Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria June 2025
119
‡ A VERY RARE 28 BORE RUSSIAN MILITARY SNAPHAUNCE HOLSTER PISTOL
KREMLIN ARMOURY WORKSHOPS, CIRCA 1660-70
with tapering barrel formed with a sighting flat over the breech, plain tang (tang and retaining screw restored), strongly bevelled lock formed with a deep belly and with pierced foliate tail, punched with scrolls over its surface, fitted with chiselled cock formed with a marine monster at its base, the jaws formed as a further monster and punched en suite with the lock-plate, scalloped pan fence, manually operated sliding pan-cover, battery with pierced moulded arm decorated en suite with the tail (mainspring restored), safety-catch with moulded lever and chiselled spring opposite the lock, full stock moulded over the fore-end and carved with slender panels of foliage at the front and rear, slender grip with faceted ovoid iron pommel-cap punched en suite with the lock, iron trigger-guard with slender pointed finial, two foliate washers for the side nails, a pair of engraved ramrod-pipes (one an early replacement), later iron fore-end cap, and later iron-tipped wooden ramrod, 42.2 cm barrel
Provenance
Robert-Jean Charles, Paris, sold 13th May 1993, lot 17
Robert Brooker Collection inv. no. 439
A number of pistols of this form are preserved in the Kremlin Armoury. The production of firearms flourished during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (r. 1645-76) under the direction of Bodgan Khitrovo who was Master of the Kremlin Workshops 1657-77. See Tarassuk 1968, p. 25, illus. 9 and 23.
Sold for £12,000
KREMLIN ARMOURY WORKSHOPS, CIRCA 1660-70
with tapering barrel formed with a sighting flat over the breech, plain tang (tang and retaining screw restored), strongly bevelled lock formed with a deep belly and with pierced foliate tail, punched with scrolls over its surface, fitted with chiselled cock formed with a marine monster at its base, the jaws formed as a further monster and punched en suite with the lock-plate, scalloped pan fence, manually operated sliding pan-cover, battery with pierced moulded arm decorated en suite with the tail (mainspring restored), safety-catch with moulded lever and chiselled spring opposite the lock, full stock moulded over the fore-end and carved with slender panels of foliage at the front and rear, slender grip with faceted ovoid iron pommel-cap punched en suite with the lock, iron trigger-guard with slender pointed finial, two foliate washers for the side nails, a pair of engraved ramrod-pipes (one an early replacement), later iron fore-end cap, and later iron-tipped wooden ramrod, 42.2 cm barrel
Provenance
Robert-Jean Charles, Paris, sold 13th May 1993, lot 17
Robert Brooker Collection inv. no. 439
A number of pistols of this form are preserved in the Kremlin Armoury. The production of firearms flourished during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (r. 1645-76) under the direction of Bodgan Khitrovo who was Master of the Kremlin Workshops 1657-77. See Tarassuk 1968, p. 25, illus. 9 and 23.
Auction: Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria June 2025, 25th Jun, 2025
Auction Location: London, UK
The Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria department run by Thomas Del Mar is now a recognised world leader in this field.
The sales offer a broad selection of objects from all over the world, from the earliest times until the Great War. Firearms from the earliest matchlock, wheel-lock, flintlock, percussion and pin-fire guns, rifles, pistols and revolvers; edged weapons from the bronze age, Viking, Medieval and Renaissance periods through to the swords of the regular armies of the 18th and 19th centuries; armour from the earliest times through the medieval and renaissance periods to the First World War; African, Australasian, Chinese, Islamic and Japanese weapons and armour; accessories including gunpowder flasks, gun locks, mechanical locks, iron work and books.
Contact the Department for further information | armsandarmour@olympiaauctions.com | + 44 (0) 20 7806 5541
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 22nd June:12pm to 4pm
Monday 23rd June: 10am to 7pm
Tuesday 24th June: 10am to 5pm
